Metallica’s Kirk Hammett Opens Up on Brutal Reality of Being a Pro Musician: ‘It’s a Screwed-up Industry’

“I think that every one of us in this band is a survivor because, man, it’s a screwed-up industry.”

Kirk Hammett reflected on how unforgiving the path of a rock musician can be, noting he now feels like a “survivor” compared to all the people whose lives were “devoured and spat out” by the industry.

It goes without saying that for every successful musician, there come dozens, or even hundreds of hopefuls who just didn’t have enough luck, talent, determination, or discipline to make it. Even then, not letting it all go to one’s head becomes a persisting challenge of its own, as even Kirk’s Metallica bandmate James Hetfield spoke about how dangerous getting “addicted to fame” can be.

Speaking to the Metallica fanzine So What! in a new interview, Kirk seems to be in a good place now — some of which comes from coming to terms with the idea that playing guitar is something he’ll probably do for the rest of his days:

“Well, I recognize that whatever happens in my life, I will always be playing guitar. I will always be making music because that’s my calling. I recognize that this is my universal calling: to play music, with or without anyone. This is what I do. And to me, the realization – I realized maybe 10-15 years ago that this really was the only option I have in my life – was great! There’s no questions about why I’m doing this.

“Because to play music, to be in this industry, to be in a band, you have to commit. You have to make so much personal sacrifice, there’s no guarantee of success, and you might get killed in the process. That’s what being in this business is like, and I can only say that now looking back. Because 40 years ago, what I saw was a bunch of kids who were hungry, innocent, had something to say, and had energy. We all started off on the same page.

“But because of the industry, because of the music, because of popularity, status, sex, drugs, and rock and roll, not all of us made it to this point. Some people got fucking devoured and spat out. Some people just got devoured and never came back.

“I got extremely affected by it. Other people in the band got extremely affected by it. I feel like I’m a fucking survivor, and I think that every one of us in this band is a survivor because, man, it’s a screwed-up industry.”

Metallica’s new album “72 Seasons” is out now.